BBQ area ideas
by
Checkatrade

A covered outdoor kitchen is quite simple the ultimate luxury addition to your garden. Not only does it provide a cosy and comfortable dining area that  can be used all year round, it also doubles your cooking capacity and entertaining space.

Adding outdoor heaters and lighting to a covered outdoor kitchen area practically transforms it into another room, providing the ideal party venue. You’d even able to use the area at Christmas, and free up valuable oven and surface space indoors. Genius!

Opt for a barbecue design that has serving areas attached to it, so you have nifty ledges on which to rest BBQ utensils, as well as food dishes.

Ramp up the outdoor entertaining zone by adding a freestanding trolley or picnic table for plates, condiments and even a cocktail mixing area.

For a wonderful ambience while eating your alfresco meal, plant aromatic plants around the BBQ patio and dining area to enjoy the scents. Add small shrubs such as lavender and rosemary that will release their fragrance when brushed past. Or add a pretty herb garden near your outdoor dining spot for fresh, easy-to-snip plants.

Finally, dress your table with breezy summer linens and foliage picked from the garden for an idyllic setting that will be hard to leave.

A substantial cover that links  your house with your BBQ area will ensure you can cook outdoors now matter what the weather, even in your slippers.

Providing a dry, warm and protected cook zone, your covered barbecue area will be the envy of all your guests, particularly in the UK’s unreliable summer months.

Even the smallest of outdoor spaces, such as a balcony, can squeeze in a barbie area. The key is to choose a compact BBQ, like a bucket style or a portable design, and then sit it on a sturdy ledge or table for a good cooking height.

When barbecuing in small outdoor spaces, be wary of hot utensils and ensure to give the chef plenty of room.

In compact gardens, opt for a fire pit that doubles as a BBQ and create a dining area on the lawn if you don’t have a patio.

Protect the grass from the heat by laying a few paving slabs or bricks underneath the BBQ. A drinks trolley will add a special touch and also double as extra serving space if you don’t have a large outdoor table.